Delhi, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delhi, Louisiana
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City
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| Town of Delhi | |
Delhi City Hall
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Location of Delhi in Richland Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Richland |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.94 sq mi (7.62 km2) |
| • Land | 2.87 sq mi (7.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,622 |
| • Density | 912.95/sq mi (352.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71232
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| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-20190 |
Delhi (pronounced DEL-hy), originally called Deerfield, is a town in Richland Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 2,622 people lived in the town.
Contents
History of Delhi
Early Schools and Natural Gas
In 1890, a school called the Delhi Institute was started in Delhi. It was a private school for Black students and was connected to the A.M.E. church. Later, it was renamed Lampton College. After a fire in 1907, the school moved to Alexandria. It eventually joined with Campbell College in Mississippi after 1945.
In the 1940s, Delhi became a busy place because of a big natural gas boom. Many people came to work in the gas industry. Even today, there are still several gas fields around the town that are working.
The 1971 Tornado
On February 21, 1971, a very powerful tornado hit near Delhi. It was Louisiana's only recorded F5 tornado, which is the strongest kind. This tornado caused 47 deaths. It was the deadliest F5 tornado in the United States since 1966.
Geography and Location
Where is Delhi Located?
Delhi is located at 32°27′21″N 91°29′36″W / 32.45583°N 91.49333°W. This means it's in the northern part of Louisiana. The town is found where two main roads meet: U.S. Route 80 and Louisiana Highway 17. It is also close to Interstate 20, a major highway.
The town covers about 2.94 square miles (7.62 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Protection from Floods
Delhi is about 89 feet (27 meters) above sea level. This higher ground helped protect the town from the terrible Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. This flood destroyed most of the areas around the Mississippi River Delta.
Poverty Point Reservoir
Just north of Delhi, along Louisiana Highway 17, you'll find the Poverty Point Reservoir. This area is home to the Black Bear Golf Club and the Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. The idea for this reservoir project was strongly supported by State Senator Francis C. Thompson, who was from Delhi.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 186 | — | |
| 1880 | 315 | 69.4% | |
| 1890 | 620 | 96.8% | |
| 1900 | 507 | −18.2% | |
| 1910 | 685 | 35.1% | |
| 1920 | 980 | 43.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,043 | 6.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,192 | 14.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,861 | 56.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,514 | 35.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,887 | 14.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,290 | 14.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,169 | −3.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,066 | −3.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,919 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,622 | −10.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Group | Number | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 789 | 30.09% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 1,727 | 65.87% |
| Native American | 8 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 8 | 0.31% |
| Other/Mixed | 44 | 1.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 46 | 1.75% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,622 people living in Delhi. These people made up 1,082 households and 641 families.
Education in Delhi
Public schools in Delhi are managed by the Richland Parish School Board. There are three main schools that serve the town:
- Delhi Elementary School (for grades Pre-Kindergarten to 4)
- Delhi Middle School (for grades 5 to 8)
- Delhi High School (for grades 9 to 12)
There is also a special school called Delhi Charter School (DCS), which teaches students from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
How Delhi Got Its Name
The exact reason why Delhi is called Delhi is not fully known. One story says that a professor named Allen chose the name. He supposedly got the idea from a poem called "Lalla Rookh" by Thomas Moore. Another story suggests that the name came from a tree that had "Delhi" carved into it. Travelers used this tree to help them find their way.
Famous People from Delhi
Many interesting people have connections to Delhi:
- Earl Holliman – A Golden Globe award-winning actor known for movies like Giant and the TV show Police Woman.
- Arlene Howell – She was crowned Miss Louisiana USA in 1958 and then became Miss USA 1958. She also acted on television.
- Bnois King – A talented jazz and blues musician who was born in Delhi.
- Bob Love – A famous basketball player who went to high school in Delhi.
- Tim McGraw – A very popular country singer, originally from nearby Start, Louisiana.
- Andrew "Blueblood" McMahon – A Chicago blues bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
- Johnny Robinson – A six-time NFL All-Pro player and a 2020 NFL Hall of Fame Inductee. He won the Super Bowl in 1970 with the Kansas City Kansas City Chiefs.
- Charles Wyly and Sam Wyly – Businessmen who helped fund the Wyly Tower of Learning at Louisiana Tech University.
Images for kids
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Downtown Delhi looking south along La 17
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Abandoned theater in downtown Delhi
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Commercial Capital Bank is located in downtown Delhi across the street from the First Baptist Church.
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First Baptist Church at 306 Broadway Street in downtown Delhi.
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Delhi United Methodist Church is located across the street from Delhi High School.
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Delhi High School, with mascot "The Bears", is operated by the Richland Parish School Board.
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Trees in the reservoir north of Poverty Point Reservoir State Park near Delhi
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See also
In Spanish: Delhi (Luisiana) para niños
